I cannot talk about a specific date. We have always stressed that the content is more important than the speed, Barroso told a press conference after talks with Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor. The meeting was also attended by EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele.
I can give you encouragement in your final efforts, he added, stressing that the government's goal of wrapping up the membership talks by the end of June was very challenging and ambitious.
Barroso praised the work and efforts of Prime Minister Kosor and her Cabinet to bring Croatia closer to the European Union.
I would like to clearly emphasise that the EU will gladly welcome Croatia as its 28th member-state as soon as possible, the head of the European Union's executive branch told the press conference.
As for the remaining issues which Barroso said required a final effort, he pointed out the reform of the judiciary, human rights and the fight against corruption, congratulating PM Kosor on her commitment to the anti-corruption drive.
Those are areas in which we would like to see concrete, plausible and sustainable results, Barroso said.
Kosor said that she had acquainted Barroso and Fuele with her cabinet's plan to bring the accession negotiations to completion by the end of June.
She said that this goal was along the lines of the European Union presidency's plans and ambitions.
Hungary, whose presidency over the EU expires on 30 June, had set the completion of Croatia's EU entry talks by the end of its presidency as one of the priorities of its six-month EU chairmanship.
"We continue to work wholeheartedly so that this month we can close two or perhaps three policy areas and we think that it is possible to achieve," Kosor told the news conference.
Seven policy chapters remain to be closed in Croatia's EU entry talks, and the toughest ones are the policy area No. 23 "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights" and the policy area No. 8 "Competition Policy".
Barroso praised the activities of the Kosor Cabinet on Croatia's road towards the EU, congratulating the PM on her commitment and courage.
In the last six years in the European Commission, this is the most convincing government in the process of integration, Barroso said, adding that Croatia's incumbent government had the best performance in reforms, however, final efforts were frequently the most difficult.
After their meeting, representatives of Croatia and the EC signed a financing agreement pertaining to the national programme for Croatia under the IPA - Component Transition Assistance and Institutional Building in 2010.
Barroso and Fuele are also scheduled to meet President Ivo Josipovic.
Barroso will also address the national parliament and meet representatives of civil society associations.
By visiting Zagreb Barroso and Fuele began their tour of this region.